Dear Editor,
On December 3, 2011, Donald Ramotar was sworn in as President of Guyana. Days prior to this, the PPP was eager to declare themselves winners. Did Mr Ramotar and the PPP at that time believe that APNU and the AFC had rigged the elections or were they too consumed in their euphoria of securing the presidency? President Ramotar as reported by the Sunday Chronicle on February 12, 2012 belatedly and recklessly accused the opposition, which never controlled or had overall responsibility for the elections, of rigging the elections and engaging in race-based politics.
Such outlandish and irresponsible statements may have ulterior motives. President Ramotar should be reminded that observers noted the abuse of state resources by the incumbent PPP government that created an unlevel playing field, as well as the poor decorum of PPP officials in describing their opponents. It was the PPP that called for a recount of the ballots before the first count was completed.
Guyanese would do well to admit that the albatross that hangs around their necks was foisted on them by both the PNC and PPP. That albatross was born of racial mistrust.
The results of the November 28 general elections proved that Guyanese are capable of breaking free of the bondage of fear that self-serving politicians have created. There is still much work to be done but I am reminded of these profound words of the former enslaved American turned abolitionist Frederick Douglass, “Power concedes nothing without a demand; it never did and it never will.” The time is long past for an end to narco-trafficking, money-laundering, corruption, nepotism, discrimination, unaccountability and an endless list of unsavoury behaviour that was in evidence prior to the election. Guyanese must demand through the new opposition parliamentary majority that they take back what rightfully belongs to the country.
The time has come for all Guyanese to have an honest discussion about race and race related matters.
I have one piece of advice for Guyanese if snap elections are announced. If a party that has been in power twenty years and can’t deliver a simple basic necessity such as a reliable electricity supply, build a stelling that won’t float away, build a road that won’t collapse in less than a year or can’t prevent flooding, it doesn’t deserve their vote.
Yours faithfully,
Nigel Jason
